By Robin Bairner

0

Sep 25, 2010 19:50:00

Les Phoceens have recorded consecutive wins for the first time all season thanks to their success over les Lionceaux...

On a blustery Mediterranean evening, the wind was very much in Olympique de Marseille’s sails as they picked up maximum points against Sochaux by virtue of a 2-1 success, earning the Ligue 1 champions three valuable points as they continue to recover after a poor start to the season.

The elements certainly played a large part in Taye Taiwo’s opening goal as the wind carried the Nigerian’s effort, which at half-time he claimed was a shot, over Mathieu Dreyer and into les Lionceaux’s net after 18 minutes of play.

On the hour mark Cesar Azpilicueta’s long throw was flicked on by substitute Loic Remy and met plum on the volley by Lucho Gonzalez, who smashed into the net from close range to put the game beyond les Lionceaux.

Nicolas Maurice-Belay made the final 15 minutes interesting by playing a neat give-and-go with Marvin Martin on the edge of the box before finishing through the legs of Steve Mandanda.

With seven minutes remaining, Andre-Pierre Gignac crashed a shot off the underside off the bar, before the striker thumped his boot off an advertising boarding as he showed his frustration at not putting the game beyond doubt.

Didier Deschamps’ men spent much of the first period on the front foot and could have scored on several more occasions. After just a minute Gignac shot wide, setting the tone for the former Toulouse attacker, who was also blaze a fine chance over the top on 25 minutes. Before the break, Gignac would also volley a far tougher opportunity wide as OM pushed relentlessly for a second goal before the break.

Immediately after the restart, a nice break from les Phoceens presented the best chance of the match thus far to Mathieu Valbuena, though his effort was well stifled by Dreyer.

Sochaux had started the game rather brightly and had the best chance of the opening 15 minutes when the wind caught a bouncing ball, leaving Steve Mandanda stranded, though Ideye Brown’s bicycle kick from an almost impossible angle hit the side netting of the empty goal.

In the closing stages, les Lionceaux weren’t strong enough to cause OM any serious anxiety, meaning that les Phoceens have won back-to-back games for the first time all season – perfect timing going into their Champions League meeting with Chelsea in midweek.

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